Abstract
At present, objective economic laws manifest themselves somewhat differently than in the earlier period of the spontaneous market. With the growth of public consciousness, communities and individuals increasingly act on the basis of ethical norms, rather than immediate personal gain in their social interactions. The importance of scientific knowledge has also grown, influencing the activities of businessmen and the state, which tends to interfere in economic life. A huge public non-profit sector has emerged, developing not according to market criteria, but according to other patterns. The article attempts to identify some of these patterns and trace how economic practices in Russia correspond to them.